Using food scraps from Intel’s cafeteria, $18,000 from its community grant giving program and Corrales manure, a pilot project at the recreation center here will soon be producing compost for Village parks and athletic fields. 

The new composting facility was under construction in late October at the east end of the rec center property designated for TopForm Arena. A concrete pad was poured Saturday, October 29 leaving a series of white PVC pipes protruding upward which will provide aeration as the organic wastes decompose.

The project is being directed by Corrales Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Siverts, who recently completed a certification class for operating a public composting facility. He stressed the wood slat bins that will be installed above the concrete pad are not meant to receive materials from the general public.

“We won’t be taking materials for composting from outside people,” he said, except for horse or cow manure for which arrangements have been made. Siverts said an agreement has been made with Branchez Tree Service to take organic material as well.

And the output will be for municipal use only, he stressed. “We are not allowed to sell or give any compost away.”

The material will be applied to the recreation center fields, landscaping and in La Entrada Park. He’s especially anticipating using the compost on the front athletic fields at the rec center. “The front fields are really pretty rough. I’d like to put on a top dressing to smooth it out a little.”

“We’re going to take it slow to be sure we’re doing it right,” he added.

The project will have three bins for stages of decomposition. The final, finishing bin will have a screen for removing only the finest organic material.

Siverts said the process is expected to start this month and, if all goes well, he expects to have good compost within six weeks. But he doesn’t expect the output to be so large that any excess will remain after meeting the needs on municipal property.

Intel spokesman Bill Davidson said the project funded here is one of nine “Sustainability in Action” projects around the world that Intel funded.  Forty-four proposals were considered.

“This project represents a joint partnership between the Intel Rio Rancho campus and the Village of Corrales Parks and Recreation Department to design and construct a composting facility on the grounds north of the recreation center main building, which will be capable of producing quality compost for use on the Corrales parks and recreation facilties, while at the same time promoting and educating Intel employees and Corrales residents about the benefits of recycling organic material though composting.”